Machine for conditioning liquids with gases



Sept. 2, 1952 R. DERING MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING LIQUIDS WITH GASES Filed April 26, 1949 .1 v w I M Patented Sept. 2, 1952 MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING'LIQUIDS I wrrn GAS-Esq Roger Daring, La'ke City,.Utah, assignor tol Combined jM'etals' Reduction Company, .Salt- Lake'City, Utah,fa corporation of Utah Application April'zii, 1949,

This invention relates toso-called conditioners, as employed industrially for intimatelyim termixing gases with liquids forvarious'purposes. Machines of this type are used extensively in therefrom. l

Principal objects of the invention are:'.

To provide a. conditioner unitwhich will efr. fect an especially intimate intermixtureof a gas,

with a liquid.

To provide such axmachine which is particu larly useful in the metallurgical field.

:Afeature of the present invention resides in the provisionofan agitation chamber which is separate, from the aeration or gas-injection chamber of the machine, and in the provision for dynamic passageof aerated or gasified liquid from the aeration chamber into the agitation chamher by way of an agitating impeller. I Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing by way of example and not of limitation.

While a conditioner of the type herein specifi cally disclosed is commonly employed to condi-' tion metallurgical pulp in advance of treatment by flotation, the broad concepts of the present invention are applicable to flotation machines assuch. The applicationof suchconcepts specifically to flotation machines is disclosed in a separately filed patent application.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a side-elevationofthe machine, the view being partly in vertical section taken on the line l--I of-Fig. 2;

Fig. 2, a horizontal section taken on 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, an enlarged detail of the aeration or gas injecting impeller as illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 4, a cross-section-tak'en on the'lin'e 4-4 of Fig. 3; and .1

Fig. 5, an enlarged detail view of the agitation impeller, the view showing a cross-section taken on the line 5 of Fig. 1 and being drawn to a somewhat smaller scale than the views of Figs.

3 and 4. v i

Referring to the drawing: the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a cylindrical container or tank 9, within which'is ,posi-' tioned, in spacedrelation thereto 'andjpreferably by means of vertically extending spacer plates.

were

Claims (or zcigsayf serves to conduct s rial no. 89,632

l0, a smaller cylindrical container or tank H. Between the containers 9 and H, is defined-a cup.-

shaped aeration or gas-injection chamber 12,: andwithin the container II is defined an agitation chamber 13.

- A conduit [4 leads into the chamber I2 from asource of liquid to be; conditioned, entering the chamber at an upper levelthereofiwhile a conduit 15 leads from the agitation chamber -I'3 at the level of the conduit 14. Such conduit 15. fully conditioned liquid to a point of-utilization,

The bottom of the container H is preferablyv provided by a cheek plate tray 16, which is sup-. ported in position by an inwardly-extending flange l la and which defines a central openinginto which fitsa depending, annular lip 11a of an agitation impeller H.

The agitation impeller 11 provides passage for aerated or gas-conditioned liquid from chamber l2 to agitation chamber l3, and serves to: effect a dynamic passage thereof from the one chamber to the other. In the present instance, the

agitation impeller H is constructed in the form.

of a hollow disk divided into a plurality of radial liquid-ejection. passages l8, Fig. 5, by means of aseriesofradial partitions llb. The passages l8 communicate at their inner ends with an intake orifice l9 definedby the depending annular lip Na, and form a corresponding .plurality of outlets |8a about the circumferential rim of the disk. Accordingly, such agitation impeller is operative to dynamically pass liquid from chamber lZtochamber l3.

The impeller I1 is fixed for rotation on a tubular shaft 20, which passes axially through the center. of theimpellerand of .its intake orifice I9 and terminates within the chamber l2 in spaced tion of air or other gas in the liquid to beconditioned. V As illustrated, the impeller 2! has a receiving recess 22 centrallylocated in its uppersurface, into which is tightly fitted the lower end of the tubular shaft 20. The recess 22 is countersunk to provide a chamber 23, from which leada plurality of radial air or other gas ejector passages 24 desirably of tubular formation as shown.

The circumferential periphery of impeller. 2| is retrocedent, that is to say symmetrically notched. to provide ports of entry 25 for the air or other gas as it discharges from the respective ejector further treatment, or storage.-

passages 24, it being understood that such passages open into the respective ports of entry. For obtaining an especially effective mixture of air or other gas with liquid contained by the chamber l2, such ports of entry 25 are formed with a radial leading portion 25a, and a concavely arcuate trailing portion 25b. 1 v

In instances where reagents, usually liquids, are to be added to and intermixed with the liquid to be conditioned, for example in the conditioning of a metallurgical pulp prior toflotation, a

tube 26 of smaller diameter than the tubular shaft 20 is inserted longitudinally and concen trically within such shaft 20 so as to terminate within impeller 2| preferably just ab'ovechamberj 23 thereof.

The tubular shaft 20 is mounted for rotation within an elongate bearing assembly 21, makingv up part of a supporting superstructure28 which rests upon the container or tank 9 as by means of cross-beams 29. Rotation ofsuch' shaft 20 maybe effected by any suitable means, for example by an electric motor (not shown) belted to a drive pulley '30 which is rigidly fixed to the shaft. The airor other gas is delivered to chamber 23 ofimpe'llerfl through the tubular shaft 20, in the present instance through the annular longitudinal"passage 3| defined between the reagentdeli'verytube 26 and the walls of' such shaft 29. For introducingair or other gas into passage 3l, a pipe fitting' 32 is mounted-at the upper end of tubular share 20by means of a conventional rotary'joint assembly 33. A pipe 34 supplies-airor-other, gas to pipe-fitting 32,

and thus'to' shaft 20, from any' suitable source of same. Preferably, the sourceis a pressure source, such as an air compressor or a pressure tank of gas, so there will be a forcible introduction of air'or other gas into the centrifugal impeller2l. V r V In operation; air or other gas is forcibly discharged, together with a reagentfiintothe body of liquid to ,beconditioned within chamber I2 by means of the impeller 2|. A continuous stream of the liquid tobe conditioned enters chamber l2 through the'supply conduit I14, passes downwardly into the zone of activity of impeller 2|, and is sucked upwardly by meanscfthe agi-,

tation impeller l1, passing through, such impeller into agitation chamber 13; I

'The agitation impeller l1,' thu s, 1 acts not only toagitate the body of liquid within chamber I3, but also acts in a measure as a pump, dynamically assisting, the liquid to. pass upwardly, through the, passage 19, I Such. impeller also acts to fling the aerated or gas-containingliquid from chamber I 2 outwardly into the agitated liquid of chamber. l3, thereby increasing dissemination of the air, or other gas, and thereagent through-.

out the liquid." V v The fully conditioned liquid which rises to the surface of agitation chamber 13 is' taken off through conduit l5, while more or less recirculation of the conditioned liquid between chambers [2 and I3 is provided for by a vertically-disposed series of openings 35'formed in the wall of the inner "container or tank ll remote from 'the liquid-supply conduit "[4 and below liquid-outflow conduit l5. Removable and replaceable plugs 36 provide for closing oifwhichever of the recirculation openings 35 are not required in any given instance.

It should be noted that the spacer plates [0' function as baffles for short-circuiting flow of the incoming liquid from supply conduit I 4, in the one instance, and recirculation flow from openings 35 in the other instance. For this purpose, such bafiles advantageously extend throughout the full length of the inner container or tank [Land are advantageously located, circumferentially of container or tank 9, midway between conduit I 4 and openings 35, "as shown.

Since both of the impellers I! and 2| are fixed to the tubular shaft 20, in spaced relationship at the lower end thereof, both rotate simultaneously. Furthermore, impeller 2| serves, in addition to its primary purpose, as a booster for impeller I 1.

presently preferred embodiment thereof, it

should be understood that various changes may ferential periphery be made therein and various other forms of the invention may be constructed on the basis of the teachings hereof, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the protective scope of the following claims.

I claim: I

a 1. A machine for conditioning liquids with gases-comprising a gas-injection tank; means for supplying a liquid to' said tank; means for injecting a gas into the liquid within said tank; an agitation tank disposed within said gas-injection tank and spacedupwardly from the bottom thereof, said agitation tank having a closed bottom and side walls which completely separate the interiors of saidtanks; passage means leading through said closedbottom from the said gas-injection tank to the said agitation .tank; an

agitation impeller operatively disposed withinthe gaseinjecting means is-an impeller provided with gas-injector passages; and wherein the agitation impeller ismounted above said gas-injecting impeller on-a driveshaft which is common to both.

3. The combination recited in claim 2, wherein' the agitation tankis spaced apart from the wallsof the gas-injection tank;v and wherein passage means are provided through the agitation'tank I at the upper part thereof affording recirculation flow between said tanks.

4. -The combination recited in claim 3, wherein a pair of baflies are disposed between the two tanks at opposite sidesthereof. for short circuitv I ing and segregating liquid supply and liquid recirculation.

5. The combination recited in claim 4,-wherein the two tanks are cylindrical and concentric.

6. 'The combination recited in claim 5, wherein the two impellers are mounted in common on a single drive shaft which is a tube through which gas is supplied to the gas-injecting impeller; and' wherein a connection is provided adjacent the upper end of said tube for a source of gas under pressure. v

7. The combination recited in claim 6,wherein the gas-injecting impeller comprises a disk having a retrocedent rim providing a plurality of enlarged ports of entry inwardlyof the circumof the' disk for. the gas. as

it is discharged into the liquid to be conditioned;

5 and gas-ejecting passages extending from intake communication with the drive shaft tube to outlet communication with the respective ports of entry.

8. The combination recited in claim 7, wherein a gas-injecting impeller is provided with a central chamber from which the gas-ejecting passages lead; and wherein a second tube is provided within and concentric with the drive shaft, said tube leading into said chamber for the purpose of supplying a reagent to the gas-injecting impeller.

9. A machine for conditioning liquids with gases, comprising a gas-injection tank; an agitation tank within but spaced apart from said gas-injection tank said agitation tank having a closed bottom and side walls which completely separate its interior from the interior of said gas-injection tank; an opening in said closed bottom of the agitation tank establishing communication between the two tanks; an agitation impeller disposed above said opening and adjacent said bottom of the agitation tank so as to be completely submerged and surrounded by liquid within said tank without access to the atmosphere; and a gas-injection impeller disposed below said opening.

10. The combination recited in claim 9, wherein recirculation passage means is provided between said tanks.

11. The combination recited in claim 10, wherein short-circuiting baflles are provided between said tanks at opposite sides of the recirculation passage means.

12. A machine for conditioning liquids with gases, comprising a cylindrical gas-injection tank; a concentric agitation tank within but spaced apart from said gas-injection tank; an opening centrally disposed in the bottom of said agitation tank establishing communication between the two tanks; a tubular drive shaft extending along the longitudinal central axes of said tanks and through the said opening; an agitation impeller fixed to said shaft above said opening, and having an annular lip depending into and rotatably fitted within said opening, said lip defining the intake mouth of said impeller; and a gas-injecting impeller fixed to said shaft below said opening, said impeller being provided with gas-ejector passages which are in communication with the hollow interior of said drive shaft.

ROGER DERING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 954,951 Furowicz Apr. 12, 1910 1,374,445 Greenawalt Apr. 12, 1921 1,925,777 Sperling Sept. 5, 1933 2,141,862 Hall Dec. 27, 1938 2,189,779 Daman Feb. 13, 1940 2,433,592 Booth Dec. 30, 1947 

